SASS Whats up?

[jack black]

Anyone notice the decline and lack of membership? they seem to have lost it they have become rule crazy and lack any business sense.

 

[Jeepnik]

Seems like every gun sport ends up with too many rules, and not enough fun. Remember when metallic silhouette was just a bunch of guys enjoying the challenge.

 

[jack black]

I call it a slow death by 1,000 cuts

 

[Tallbald]

I'm 61 almost, and sometimes feel like I'm the final few years of an age group that was raised on TV westerns. I have occasionally thought that a lack of younger folks familiar with our TV western heros of the 50's and 60's has lead to declining SASS interest. But I'm not the brightest tool in the lamp nor the sharpest bulb in the tool shed. I recently read of a new competition shooting sport wherein guns and scenarios from shows like Miami Vice and other 80's TV cop series are the focus. Bren 10's, MP5's (semi-auto only) and short shotguns rule the events. That sort of speaks to what I've been thinking.
Don

 

[TRanger]

Same thing that happened to IPSC: the gamesmen took over. The original idea was to have fun shooting genuine old west-style guns and loads. Now it’s all about winning matches with trick guns and powder puff loads that would have been totally impractical in the real West.

 

[4 lb kate]

I am 74 and started SASS in the 80's when the badge numbers were in the 3000 range. There was a few rules, membership took off, then guys started in saying the rules do not say I can't do this or that and the rules took off. The influx of shooters also started the arms race. They seen the top shooters doing this or that to to take off a .01 second and thought that they could or should do the same thing then they could be top guns also. Then some wanted to keep SASS for only paid members and NCOW's started. NCOW's pull people that would have went SASS. You have people that own SASS that seen a cash cow and started upping membership price and any other charges. You also have members getting older with kids having kids and they don't have or don't want to spend the disposable income on shooting.

 

[Johnnu2]

I've noticed a coupla things over the years (SASS related and otherwise). I remain convinced that every shooter is significantly influenced by TV and movies in their yewt (and in many cases into their adulthood if they still watch this stuff). I could be wrong, but how else do you explain people loving those UGLY black guns )).
As far as rules go, I have, yet another, very personal opinion. With the exception of basic safety: If you have to become knowledgeable beyond 'fun' it ain't worth the effort.
Also, there seems to be a phenomenon that you may notice when it comes to "rules" (and the same can be said for local, state and esp. federal LAWS).... Rules/laws are created, but never eliminated...
IMHO of course,
J

 

[jack black]

Sad to watch another fun game being destroyed by a few gamer types .It used to be such a fun game the bickering that goes on over on the site reminds me of a bunch of school children fighting on the playground.

Sad indeed.

 

[BearBio]

I stopped going when the "gamers" came in==cowboy style tennis shoes, "western shirts", slicked up actions, 32 cal & reduced loads. I shot 45 Colt. non-rugers (3 clicks), 1873, original Winchester 97 (1902, marked "Adams Express Company). No Wranglers or pear buttons. Had fun but the gamers complained I was too slow!

There was a sub group called "The Warthogs" =40 cal or over, BP preferred. (I also was a Masonic Shooter).

Seems like the "Win at all cost" gamers took over. Try to sell a "non-slicked" gun on the SASS web.

 

[Rook]

I used to go to some SASS matches back before they started doing silly stuff. When they started riding stick horses and reciting some stupid line before a stage I decided it was time for me to ride off into the sunset.

 

[Ray Newman]

At one time, I thought about cowboy action shooting. Then I realized that it seemed to be more of a dress-up/costume game, just like the muzzle loading matches I stopped attending.

 

[Jeepnik]

At one time, I thought about cowboy action shooting. Then I realized that it seemed to be more of a dress-up/costume game, just like the muzzle loading matches I stopped attending.

Pretty much was. Just a bunch of elderly kids dressing up and having fun. Face it most of us played cowboys and Indians as kids. No reason to stop just because we got older. We don't have to grow up unless we want to.

 

[eveled]

For someone just starting out it is overwhelming. I really rather just pay to shoot the course.

 

[contender]

Almost any endeavor such as SASS or whatever starts as a fun event,, due to simplicity & the idea of just having fun.
Then,, a "few" rules get introduced to level the playing field to allow more folks to enjoy playing the game. And let's face it,, an experienced shooter is always going to be better than a newbie. Human nature being competitive,, we want to see how good we are as compared to others. So,, as the ideas & games progress,, more rules are introduced.
Let's look at the game of horseshoes. The playing field is a set distance, and the scoring is straight forward. And when a group gets together,, it isn't long before a seriously good shoe thrower has beaten all comers. Throw in a novice against an expert,, and the novice may play one game & then quit.
In gun games,, to keep novices coming back,, rules & such (divisions, types of guns allowed, calibers, skill levels, etc) are introduced, and added to as necessary to try & keep it fun AND competitive. But in the long run,, folks who get SERIOUS about competing & winning will still become the ones to beat & others just give up trying.
Want to win a swimming competition,, and have to compete against Michael Phelps?
Want to jump into a nascar car & have to try & win over a guy like Dale Earnhardt was?
Want to play basketball & have to go against Michael Jordan one on one?

There will always be people who are much better than the average guy just wanting to have fun. From a local match,, to the Nationals.
Rules, gamers, and talent will always push things to a peak, then decline. Anything that survives will do so because of the average guys who approach it just to have fun, work on their own skills, and socialize. When any game gets too strict & forgets to make sure it's still fun,, it will die off.

Our local SASS club that I shot with for a while got to where it wasn't as "fun" as it was when I started. In SASS,, they had a thing about trying to be "period correct." Well, I enjoy being barefoot,,, and I was told in NO uncertain terms,, It wasn't allowed,, for "safety." I stayed for a while longer,, then more & more I saw the ones in charge get more & more restrictive,, to where it really wasn't fun anymore,, so I quit. A few years later,, I ran into a guy who had been the club prez for a bit. He too had quit because of similar reasons.

I think the most restrictive game out there is Pro golf. The rule book is extensive,, and often hard to understand. Thankfully,, at most clubs,, a group of four friends can get together & enjoy the game at their level,, and are totally ignorant of many of the minor rule infractions they commit. Put the same four guys in a major & they'd be eliminated early on for sure. BUT,,,, at a local club,, out there w/o judges & such,, they play a game on their level. And only fishermen are second to them in embellishing the game afterwards. Well,,,,,,,,,, maybe!

 

[Brules]

At one time, I thought about cowboy action shooting. Then I realized that it seemed to be more of a dress-up/costume game, just like the muzzle loading matches I stopped attending.

I also considered SASS, but didn't want to play "dress-up". I just wanted to shoot.

 

[blackhawknj]

Isn't that true of any "competition/game" ? The ".32 caliber or larger" rule for Bullseye came about after Charlie Askins showed up with a 22 centerfire pistol, Jeff Cooper left IPSC when he found it became too much of a sport and not a training exercise. When was the last time you saw a "Flying V" formation in football ?

 

[gramps]

IDPA was supposed to be a place to test your carry gear. Yeah right, just don’t bring a shoulder holster, or a crossdraw or? I never went.
gramps

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

At one time, I thought about cowboy action shooting. Then I realized that it seemed to be more of a dress-up/costume game, just like the muzzle loading matches I stopped attending.

I also considered SASS, but didn't want to play "dress-up". I just wanted to shoot.

I wanted to shoot SASS and did for a few years with my son. We both got tired of constant adding of rules. I also wasn't as into the dress-up/costume part of it. I wore the shoes I had because my calves are SO BIG, I not only can't wear cowboy boots, I can't wear fishing waders. But they couldn't be a little flexible, and I eventually quit. Darn shame to, because it started out pretty fun.